President Karzai's Statement on the Launching
of Afghanistan's First National Human Development Report
Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan
02/22/2005
Presidential Palace, Kabul - The following
statement was issued yesterday on behalf of H.E. Hamid Karzai,
President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the launch
of Afghanistan's First National Human Development Report:
"I received Afghanistan's first National
Human Development Report with great pleasure. This report places
Afghanistan, for the first time, in global development comparisons.
The findings of the report are grim: Our nation
falls at the bottom of the Human Development Index.
The fact that more of our mothers die in childbirth
than anywhere on earth, and that the illiteracy rate in Afghanistan
is higher than almost anywhere in the world is understandable,
but no longer acceptable.
My government intends to use this report for policy
guidance and as a yardstick with which to measure its future
achievements.
I would like to extend appreciation to UNDP for
supporting and guiding the publication of this important report.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to all those who
contributed to it".
